The Beaumont Bulls, a youth football team in the town of Beuamont, Texas, will continue to kneel during the pre-game national anthem despite having received violent threats as a result of their demonstration.
Attention surrounded the team on September 4th when the coaches and players, taking a cue from San Francisco 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick, took a knee and placed their hands on each other’s shoulders during the playing of the National Anthem prior to their game.
April Parkerson, the mother of 11-year-old Jaelun, the team’s running back, said to ABC News that the expression was never meant to serve as a condemnation of the country’s military or law enforcement institutions. Rather, she said the boys and coaches did it to bring attention to the racial injustices that are prevelant throughout the U.S.
Nonetheless, the team has found itself under fire, particularly on social media, where many criticisms have turned ugly, pledging or threatening violence against all involved, adults and children.
The team’s coach, Rah Rah Barber, who helped organize the demonstration was called out to be lynched by a Facebook user from Oklahoma. In the face of this threat and several others delivered to the pre-teen boys on the team, April Parkerson says the protest will continue. "Hatred like that is everywhere. But there's also so much love."
When asked about his reaction to the menacing comments, Barber said simply, "I ignore it. It's the kids I worry about. If they ever felt threatened, I would advise their parents to reach out to authorities."
The next week’s game garnered attention in response to the threats, but was played safely, resulting in a 19-0 victory for Beaumont and an appearance by local Black Panthers:
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Players elsewhere in the country are also receiving similar threats for protesting by kneeling during the National Anthem. A Cleveland high school player, 16-year-old Rodney Axson, Jr. has received a death threat and messages bearing racial slurs for his act that same weekend:
Several days following the news of the death threats in Beaumont, the Bulls issued a statement to CBS 58 in Milwaukee which read:
“Their choice to express themselves has now made them a target for hateful comments and threats to their lives as well as those working with the team by those in our community and surrounding areas.”
The FBI has not yet publicly commented on their investigation of the death threats made to either the team members in Beaumont or Rodney Axson in Cleveland.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
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Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.